Illbliss won't give us jaw-dropping punchlines or awe-inspiring metaphors.We already knew that much.Illygatti is reputed for just about anything other than his hard core lyrics and for Illosophy to work in a way the Illyzilla joint EP with producer,Teckzilla didn't,Illbliss would have to decentralize the focus on pure content rap.This EP is splendid because he does just that.
He infuses components from his comfort zone of indigenous rap to create very catchy choruses and solicits a more groovy set of beats to de-emphasize lyricism and an erratic delivery.He captures his modus succinctly on Osadebe when he says-"Do my shit differently shout out to Johnny Drille,the lyricism nice but the marketing is key".Oh yes it is.
The hippy ibo/english chorus on the banging Suspekt beat for Ruler2 (RIP B-Elect) kicks in the adrenaline as soon as it comes on and has you nodding till the end.All Illbliss had to do was string together any set of rhymes.
Illychapo does combine a host of factors to make pleasant music but it also has to be said for him that he stepped his lyrical game up a notch.He was miles better than he was on Illyzilla.Its at a level where no one can say Illbliss can't rap,they can only say he isn't an outstanding wordsmith.He thumps gloriously on the Suspekt produced Lie Down Dia in perhaps his best lyrical display on Illosophy-"Mentally i'm chess; you lose more or less,wisdom reveals the devil in a dress.Prayers ensure i never digress,you don't wanna see the claws on a tigeress".
The Illyzilla EP may not have been a classic rap offering but it had a really top notch production.Those Teckzilla beats were better suited for an out and out lyricist.Most heads sprang up Mode 9 as a first thought and its good they have both hooked up for a joint project.Illy appears to have understood better on Illosophy that there are good beats and then there are good beats meant for the artiste.Major Bangz's breath-taking instrumental for the opening Player To Coach allows Illbliss strut authoritatively through his statement of intent.Even the worst pessimist would have to accept he may be in for a helluva ride.
Bangz replicates his magic on the triumphant Die there (Hustle) where another fresh beat comes on at the 1:48 mark for Illygatti to lay the same 'still winning' chorus and pick up the rhyme spree.
Black Intelligence sets him up perfectly on the absorbing Thankful where Illy drops some really hot bars-"I let the words paint on the pad,thats the canvass,acrylic whatever lyric,such a relic".Uzezi's singing complements him to great effect on the uplifting chorus.Overall,Illbliss has in Illosophy a 7 track EP,you can hit play,sit back and enjoy.No skippables.
If he'll get flak for anything its his lack of versatility.I remember saying on my Illyzilla EP review that he was stuck on the very first stage of a hardcore lyricist's evolution-the freestyle stage.Illbliss still beasts through an entire body of work solely self-glorifying.He only does it much better on Illosophy.
Even when a song is titled Thankful,he praises self till the very end where he reels out names.Grown Man Raps too which on the face of it,would have one thinking along the lines of Jay-Z's 30 Something.His friend and fellow thoroughbred,the late B-Elect was much more in tune with the message.Illygatti aka Illychapo aka Illy... doesn't talk growth,he just gets to painting that monochromatic image he is used to.Gratefully,he doesn't bore us here.
I'm pleased to announce llbliss has a winning formula for pure hip hop as well.Thats the major takeaway from the Illosophy EP.
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